HOSIERY SHORTAGE

Southland Times, Issue 24548, 24 September 1941, Page 7

HOSIERY SHORTAGE

AUTHORITATIVE ANALYSIS BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

In the hosiery situation one is apt to accept the fact of a shortage without giving full consideration as to whether that shortage is as real as at present it appears, or whether it is largely artificial—the result of panic. My conclusion is that it is largely a “panic” shortage. As people will rush to withdraw their money from, a bank upon a rumour that it is insecure and by then’ very rush “break” an otherwise sound bank, so they rushed the stores upon a rumour of hosiery shortage and “broke” the hosiery stocks of the country. The fact is that between December and March last, New Zealand women bought roughly 1,000,000 pairs of stockings more than they needed, or had ever bought before in a similar period. These lovely hose are nestling in drawers and boxes today, doing no good whatever but without doubt a great consolation to their owners. The result, of course, is that through there being no stockings in the shops the fear is general and every woman now wants 3 or 4 pairs as a standby. That frankly, is impossible at present, but the situation can be relieved, as manufacturers and retailers point out, if we women ourselves will take the first step. Here is the position: Assuming that in 1939 women between ages 14 and 70 purchased every pair of stockings imported into the country and also every pair produced by local manufacture in the twelve months each woman used approximately eight pairs. This year, the hosiery industry is producing

enough stockings to allow each of those women six pairs per year. Surely there is no war-time hardship for sensible women in an allowance of six pairs per year. Admittedly, some are used to more, but on the average, the peacetime consumption was as stated —eight pairs per woman per year. But the painful part of the present situation is that those least entitled to the inconvenience are bearing most of it—the mothers of families who cannot get to town readily; girls who go daily to office, factory, and shop and have, therefore, to shop at specified and restricted times. When women with ample hosiery realise that the wives, mothers, and sweethearts of a great many of our boys overseas have no hose, then as a point of honour they will cease buying. It rather shames our sex that in a mere trifle we could be panicked so easily while our menfolk are covering themselves with glory for their steadiness and courage in the most awful circumstances. It is not that the women who bought in excess of their needs are naturally selfish. They did something entirely human under the circumstances. But they must now understand that continuing to buy is taking advantage of their means and circumstances in a manner that throws hardship on their sisters less favourably placed—particularly mothers tied to homes. The facts are simple; it is in our own hands to correct this position. No woman who now has hosiery should buy more until it is absolutely necessary—it is up to us.